NATIONAL PARTY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 April 1942, Page 3

NATIONAL PARTY

PREPARATION I FOR EARLY ELECTION IN VIEW OF LABOUR ATTITUDE DECLARATION BY DOMINION COUNCIL. NEED OF GREATEST MEASURE OF UNITY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Recent political developments following the Easter conference of the Labour Party were discussed yesterday by the Dominion Council of the New Zealand National Party, attended by delegates from all parts of New Zealand, and the following resolution was adopted unanimously:— “Recognising the imperative need for the greatest measure of unity, cooperation, and sacrifice in this hour of national emergency, when the safety and security of the people of New Zealand, and the future of our entire social, industrial, and economic system are at stake, the National Party deplores the decision of the Labour Party’s Easter conference to deny to the Prime Minister his right to take the steps he considers essential to a maximum war effort by the consolidation of political forces and the formation of a non-party wartime Government.

“In view of the decision of the Labour conference to complete its own preparations for a general election, and in view of the Prime Minister’s clear indication that the election campaign is likely to be of short duration, the National Party has no alternative but to accept the position forced upon it and to prepare for a general election as quickly as possible.” Amplifying the resolution of the Dominion Council, the president, Mr Alex. Gordon, said the leader of the party, Mr Holland, had given a full account of the steps he and the Parliamentary party had taken to give the people a lead by urging the formation of a national Government so as to increase New Zealand’s war effort, but now that the Easter conference of the Labour Party had decided not to follow the Prime Minister’s advice, but instead to break off all negotiations for consolidating political forces, and to prepare immediately for a election, the National Party had no option but to do the same. Decisions had, therefore, been reached to complete preparations for a general election, for which plans had been interrupted when the elections were postponed last year in the hope of a national Government being formed. It was also decided to hold the annual conference of the party in Wellington ■at an early date. FULL WAR EFFORT STATEMENT BY OPPOSITION LEADER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “The first consideration in the National Party’s war time election policy, will be a very great increase in our war effort and the organisation of New Zealand on a complete war footing,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, in an interview last evening. The entire resources of the country—manpower, financial and material — would have to be mobilised for a full war effort. Anybody and everybody standing in the way of a full war effort, or of the provision of every possible item of defence equipment, would be brushed aside, and every person capable of rendering worth-while service would be employed where he or she could render maximum service. Where normal equipment was deficient improvised instruments of warfare would be provided. “To strengthen our war effort,” said Mr Holland, “the defence of New Zealand will be placed in the hands of an experienced ex-soldier with full executive power. ■ Production will be' the responsibility of experienced men, and outstanding men will be engaged to assist in their most useful spheres, whether they belong to the National Party or the Labour Party or any other party, and if need be men, and women too, outside Parliament altogether will be used to organise New Zealand for total war.

“No impediment, industrial, financial or otherwise, will be allowed to stand in the way, and the burden will be spread in the most equitable manner possible. A great essential to an increased war effort is the organisation of a nation-wide efficiency drive. “The responsibility for the present political situation rests entirely with the Labour Party; I repeat that in the event of a National Party success ’at the forthcoming elections, it.will immediately set about the formation of a nonparty Government, and will engage the most able men in New Zealand, whether they are inside of Parliament or not, to help in the colossal task of organising New Zealand for total war.” While deploring That the attitude of the Labour Party made a general election inevitable, Mr Holland observed, in concluding, that “an election will nevertheless give the public a muchneeded opportunity of declaring itself on this great question of unity and the organisation of New Zealand for total war.”